Brake operating mechanism



y 3 c. J. NASH ET AL 1,804,179

BRAKE OPERATING MECHANI SM Fild May 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .77 gas y 1931- c. .1. NASH ET AL 1,804,179

BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m s= aha/alas J JV 05/1 2716 @771 Ema/L CHARLES J. NASH AND HERBERT E. BABTSGH, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO UNIVERSAL DRAFT GEAR ATTAEN'I' ('10., A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed may 11,

This invention relates to railway brakes and more particularly to winding mechanism therefor.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved railway brake winding mechanism as an attachment for railway cars for manually operating the brakes, that may be assembled at the factory and applied to the car as a unit with a minimum amount of time, labor and expense. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of anew and improved winding mechanism having means for employing a wire cable for operating the brakes and for utilizing the resiliency of said cable for assisting in unwinding the same from the drum when the brakes are released.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved hand operated mechanism for operating railway brakes in which substantially the entire mechanism except the operating lever or wheel'is enclosed and protected by a casing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for retaining the brake operating mechanism in position for holding the brakes applied and for releasing the same.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved brake operating mechanism that is cheap to manufacture, simple in construction, eflicient in operation, composed of few moving parts, and one in which the moving parts occupy a minimum amount of space and are protected from the elements.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will-appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a car showing the invention in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with parts in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the brake operating mechanism, with parts in section and parts broken away;

1927. Serial No. 190,441.

gig-4 is a section on line4-4 of Fig. 3; an

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of I a modified form of guide.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same parts are designated by the same 7 reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a railway car, and 11 an end of sald car. Since the car is of the usual construction it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

The brake operating or winding mechanism is enclosed in a casing designated generally by the reference. character 13 and comprises a base plate 14, see Figs. 2 and 4, 5

which is substantially flat and constitutes a closure for a receptacle or container member 15. The casing 13 contains substantially all of the winding mechanism exce t the hand lever or wheel for operating sai mechanism '70 and the leverfor changing the pawl. The receptacle or container member is rovided with a flange 16 extending latera 1y from all sides thereof and is adapted to engage the outer edge of the plate 14. The casing The winding mechanism comprises a drum so 22 having a hub 19. The drum is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin or shaft 21 extend ing transversely through said casing. The drum 22 is rovided with a spiral groove 23.

Preferab y, though not necessarily, the

container 15 is cast with an apertured bearing boss 18 for receiving the pin 21. The closure 14 is provided with an opening 24 in which the bearing block 25 is secured.

The bearing block 25 is secured in the circular opening in any suitable manner. In the present instance the block is reduced at one end and the'reduced end placed in the opening as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and headed over as at 26. The pivot pin 21 is headed over at each end for permanently holding the parts inassembled relation, as will presently appear. A sleeve 27 of suitable material as brass or bronze is mounted on the pin 21 to constitute a bearing whereby the wheel 18 will rotate morefreely and to space the closure 14 and container member 15 while the pin 21 is being headed over.

The drum is rovided with an eccentric projection 28 w ich terminates a pearshaped pocket or recess 29, see Fig. 3, for receiving the end of the operating cable 31. In attaching the cable to the drum the strands at the end of the cable are untwlsted and placed in the recess 29 after which the recess or pocket is filled with moltenv lead which upon cooling will anchor the cable to the drum. .The eccentric projection 28 constitutes a quick take-up of'the slack in the brake operating mechanism during the m1- tial operation of the brake.

Suitable means are provided for operatingthe winding mechanism. It is desirable that means be employed whereb the'power applied for operating the bra es will be greatly multip ied. In the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a gear and pinion are employed for this purpose. As shown, a relativel large spur gear 32 is rigidly connecte to the drum 22 as by being cast integral therewith. A pinion 33 meshes with the gear 32. The pinion 33 is provided with an angular axial opening for receiving the angular shaft 34 journaled in the .casing 13 in any suitable manner. As shown the closure 14 is provided with a journal blockv 35 which is attached in the same manner as the bearing block 25. The receptacle 15 A collar 42 on the hub 37 limits the outward movement of the hub and shaft 34.

A lever or hand wheel 30 is ri 'dly mounted on the outer end of the sha t 34 for turning said shaft to operate the brakes.

While the bearing bosses 18 and 36 are cast integral with the receptacle andthe bearing blocks 25 and 35 are separately attached, it is understood both may be cast integralor both separately attached as desired. It is preferred to construct the bosses integral with the receptacle because they can be cast integral therewith when the receptacle is cast. The bearing blocks are separately attached because the closure may be made from sheet metal by boring holes for the bearings and attaching bolts and then attaching the bearing blocks somewhat after the manner of attaching eyelets, as described above.

. Suitable means are employed for retaining the drum in brake holding position. As

shown, a pawl 43 pivoted on a shaft 44 is adapted to engage the teeth of the gear 33, see' Fig. 3, to prevent unwinding of the drum. The pawl is held .m engagement with the teeth by a pawl engaging dog or 44 and located on the outside of the casing is adapted to hold the dog or cam in engagement with the pawl when the lever 1s in the position shown in full lines in F1g. 1. When the lever is swung to the opposite side of the shaft 44 from that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the dog 45 will engage beneath the pawl 43 and hold the same out of engagement with the teeth of pinion 33 when it is desired to release the brakes.

Suitable means are provided for holding the cable in the spiral groove. One manner of accomplishing this function is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the outer wall 51 of the casing is arranged adjacent to the groove about the lower side of the same, and a flange 52 is curved about the upper portion'o the groove for this urpose.

The casing 13 is provide with a downwardly extending conduit extension 530 having an enlarged sleeve 540 at its lower end through which the cable 31 extends.

A housing 55 having a cable guide, as the pulley 56, is rigidly connected to the lower portion of the end sill 57 of the car. The housing terminates at-its upper portion in a sleeve or conduit extension 58 which is adapted to receive the lower end of the pipe or conduit 59, the upper end of which engages in the sleeve 540 of the casing 13. The cable 31 asses downward throu h the conduit 59 and about the pulley 56 an from thence to the brake lever. A platform 50 is mounted on the end of the car on which the operator stands to a ply the brakes.

In the operation 0 the brake the lever 48 having been turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, the wheel or lever 30 is turned clock wise, which will cause the drum 22 to turn counter-clockwise to wind the cable 31 on said drum. The pawl 43 will ride over the teeth of the pinion 33 and will en age the same for reventing unwinding o the ca ble. Durmg the initial movement of the drum the rejection 28 will engage the cable to quic y take up the slack in the brake operating mechanism, and on further rotatlon of the wheel 30 the brakes will be ap-' plied. When it is desired to release the brakes the lever 48 is turned over to the opposite side of its pivot and the wheel 30 moved clockwise slightly to release the awl 43,-and then let loose. The tendency o the wire cable to unwind due to its resiliency will assist in releasing the brakes. Should I30 drum will move radially outward into fric-- tional engagement with the flange 52 and 'wall 51, thereby damping or checking the movement of the drum.

A wire cable is preferably employed because the casing can be made much smaller in depth or thickness than were a chain employed due to the fact that with a wire cable the groove need not be over half an inch in diameter, whereas with a chain it is necessary to make the groove about two inches in diameter.

The device is adapted to be assembled at the factory and .may then be applied with a minimum amount of time and labor by the car manufacturers. In assembling the device the shafts 21, 34 and 44 are inserted through the outer wall of the receptacle member 15, the sleeve 27 and drum 22 are placed on the shaft 21, the pinion 33 is placed on the shaft 34, and is secured thereon by the pin 53 which prevents the withdrawal of the shaft 34. The wheel or lever 30 is secured on the outer end of the shaft 34. The shaft 44 is flattened on one side and the dog has a corresponding opening for pro erly positioning the dog on the shaft. pin 54 engaging the dog '45 and shaft 44 prevents the withdrawal of the shaft 44 from the outer wall of the casing. The pawl 43 is then placed on the shaft 44. After the cable 31 has been attached to the drum in the manner described above, the closure 14 is placed over the receptacle member with the shafts extending through the corresponding. bearing blocks, after which the inner end of the shaft 21 is headed over for holding the parts in assembled relation.

In attaching the device to the end of a car, the casing 13 is secured in position and the conduit 59 and housing 55 are threaded on the cable 31. The upper end of the conduit 59 is placed in the sleeve 540 and its lower end in the sleeve 58 after which the housing 55 is secured to the end sill 57. The end of the cable 31 is finally attached to the brake lever and the installation is complete.

Since the ends of pipes are usually more or less rough and ragged, and for that reason would tend to cut or wear the strands of the cable passing through the same, means are provided for protecting the cable from coming in contact with the ends of the pipe or conduit 59. As shown in Fig. 3 the sleeves for receiving the ends of the ipe are providedwith an inwardly extendlng annular projection 60 having a curved shoulder 61 against which the end of the tube abuts. The smooth curved shoulder 61 holds the cable out of contact with the end of the tube.

While the pawl 43 is shown as being held in either operative or inoperative position by the weight of the lever 48 through the engagement of the dog 45 with said pawl, it is underestood other suitable means may be employed for this purpose so long as the means employed are accessible from the exterior of the casing.

It will thus be apparent that the brake operating mechanism is completely housed within a casing and is protected from rain, snow, and ice, which would otherwise interfere with the proper operation of the mechamsm.

' A guide or conduit may also be provided for the cable beneath the car. In such cases, it is sometimes necessary to provide a curve in the conduit to avoid mechanism, brackets or the like beneath the car. In such cases the ends of the pipe or conduit may be secured in a curved connecting member 62 having sleeve portions 63 and 64 at the ends thereof for receiving the ends of the pipes or conduits 65 and 66, respectively. The pipes may be threaded into the sleeves if desired. The connecting member is provided With an annular inwardly extending projection 67 curved longitudinally of the member over which the cable slides. This projection prevents the cable from coming in contact with the ends of the pipes or conduits. A connecting member of this general type may be employed in place of the pulley 56 for changing the direction of the cable from vertical to horizontal beneath the car.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of our device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various chan es in size, shape, proportion and details 0 construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A brake operating mechanism attach ment comprising a casing, winding mechanism within said casing, means extending to the exterior of said casing for manually operating said winding mechanism, a conduit extension on said casing, means for attaching said casin to the end wall of a car, a housing provi ed with a cable guide therein, means for attaching said housing to a railway car, a conduit extension on said housing, a conduit having its ends removably mounted in said extensions, and a cable secured to said drum and extending through said conduit and about said guide.

2. In a railway brake operating mechanism, a casing, a winding mechanism within said casing, said winding mechanism including a drum having aspiral groove therein for receiving a brake operating cable, and

ing said cable from becoming dislodged from said groove during the operation of said mechanism.

3. In combination, a casing adapted to be attached to the end wall of a railway car above the plane of the floor thereof, a winding drum having a horizontal axis, rotatably mounted in said casing, a flange onsaid casing concentric with said drum, a wire cable attached to said drum and extending beneath said car and adapted to engage said flange to prevent overrunning of said drum during the release of the brake, a gear rotatable with said drum, ahorizontally arranged power shaft journaled in said casing, a pinion fixed to said shaft and meshing with said gear, an operating member attached to the outer end of said shaft for rotating the same, a pawl engaging said pinion for holding said pinion from moving in one direction, and means external of said casing for releasing said pawl.

4. A brake operating unit comprising a casing in the form of a receptacle open at one side, laterally extending attaching flanges about the edge of said casing, a flat plate overlapping said flanges for closing said casing, a pair of shafts supported by said casing and plate, a geared brake drum and a ear for operating the same journaled on said shafts, means extending to the outside of said casing for operating said gear, said casing being provided with a conduit adjacent to said drum, and means for bolding, said plate in engagement with said flange.

5. A brake operating unit comprising a casing in the form of a receptacle open at one side, laterally extending attaching flanges about the edge of said casing, a flat sheet metal back plate for closing said receptacle, a shaft having one end supported in said casing, an eyelet in said plate for supporting the other end of said shaft, a drum journaled on said shaft, a brake operating wire cable attached to said drum, and a flange extending inwardly from said casing concentric with said drum for engaging said cable to check the reverse movement of said drum to prevent its overrunning during the release movement of the brake, means for operating said drum, and means for holding said drum in brake applying position.

6. In a brake operating mechanism, a casing, a brake drum journaled in said casing, a flange extending inwardly from one wall of said casing, one portion of the periphery of said drum being concentric therewith, gear mechanism within said casing for rotating said drum, means extending to the exterior of said casing for operating said mechanism, and a brake operating wire cable secured to said drum.

7. In a mechanism for operating a brake,

a casing, a cable winding drum journaled within said casing, a brake operating cable attached to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon for applying said brake, means for rotating said drum to wind said cable thereon to apply said brake, said cable being comparatively stiff whereby when the same is wound on said drum the coils thereof will be caused to expand in diameter when said drum overruns during the release movement of said brake, and means for engaging said cable to check the backward rotation of said drum only when the same overruns during the release movement of said brake.

8. In a brake operating mechanism, a casing secured to the end of a car, a brake drum journaled in said casing, a flange extendin inwardly from one wall of said casing an concentric with said drum, gear mechanism within said casing for rotating said drum, means extending to the exterior of said casing for operating said mechansm, a brake operating wire cable secured to said drum, and a guide for directing said cable down the end of said car and beneath the same, said guide comprising a plurality of conduits, and an angular connector for receiv-' ing the adjacent ends of said conduits, the inner wall of said connector being convex in longitudinal section.

9. In a brake operating mechanism, a casing, a brake drum journaled in said casing, a brake staff extending laterally from said casing for rotating said drum, said casing having a conduit rigidly secured thereto and extending downwardly andterminating in a sleeve, an elongated conduit telescopically engaging said sleeve, a housing, a sheave journaled in said housing, said elongated conduit and housing having a telescopic connection and a brake operating cable connected to said drum and extending downwardly through said conduit and housing-and about said sheave.

10. In combination, a railway car, a casing, a winding drum within said casing, means for securing said casing to the end of said car for supporting the same therefrom, said casing having a conduit rigidl connected thereto and extending downwar ly, the lower end of said conduit being substantially circular and having its axle substantially tangential to said drum, a tubular guide member telescopically connected to said conduit, a housing engaging the lower end of said tubular guide member, means for securing said housing to said car adjacent to the lower corner thereof, and a flexible element secured to said drum and extending downwardly through said conduit, tubular guide member and through said housing, the passage through the tubular guide member being but slightly larger than said flexible element.

11. A brake operating mechanism attachment comprising a casing, Winding mechanism Within said casing including a drum, means extending to the exterior 0 said casing for manually operating said winding mechanism, a conduit extension on said casing, means for attaching said casing to the end wall of a car, tubular guide means detachably connected to the lower end of said conduit extension and extending downwardly from said casing on the outside of said car to a point beneath the same, and a brake operating cable extending from said drum downwardly through said means and below the plane of the bottom of said car, said conduit extension and tubular guide means surrounding and protecting from the elements the downwardly extending portion of said cable.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signacures.

CHARLES J. NASH. HERBERT E. BARTSCH. 

